LAKKI MARWAT: After the failure of nightlong talks with administration officials, policemen in plainclothes continued their protest sit-in here for the second day on Tuesday.

A large number of policemen from neighbouring southern districts and local tribesmen from different parts of the district also joined the protest.

The busy Peshawar-Karachi Highway remained closed for the second day, suspending traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.

The protesters pitched tents at the busy Tajazai Chowk and kept the main road closed for vehicles.

Queues of goods transport vehicles were seen on both sides of the blocked road. Public transport vehicles used alternate routes to continue their journey.

The blockade of the Indus Highway troubled both motorists and commuters.

“We spent the night on the road under the trailer truck,” a driver told Dawn.

Another transporter said he had parked his loaded vehicle alongside the road for the last two days and there were no chances of the early opening of the highway.

He said that the drivers were worried about the goods they were transporting to various areas.

The transporters said that the government should hold talks with protesters to convince them to eliminate road blockade.

A large number of policemen in plainclothes from Bannu, DI Khan, Tank and Karak districts also came to Lakki Marwat and joined the sit-in at the Lt Adnan Shaheed Chowk in Tajazai area.

They carried banners inscribed with peace and solidarity messages with their protesting colleagues.

Local tribesmen from different areas, elders and members of bar association, traders, students, civil society activists and political and religious elites also showed up at the sit-in and expressed solidarity with policemen.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman’s brother Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman also addressed protesters.

He said his party always stood by the people of the district in difficult times. He said that all institutions, including the Pakistan Army, police and politicians, should work within their own constitutional limits.

“We respect security forces as they are our pride but peace cannot be restored as long as they are camped in the schools and police stations,” he said.

Mr Rehman asked the government to confine security forces to their constitutional boundaries.

Former district nazim Ishfaq Khan Meenakhel, Marwat Bitanni Tehreek chairman Inamullah Khan, Abakhel Qaumi Jirga leader Naseer Turab, Jamaat-i-Islami leader and former district councilor Irfanullah Khan and others also spoke on the occasion.

The protesting police officials refused to show any flexibility in the first round of talks with authorities until their demands were met.

They said they were the victims of terror attacks and therefore, the government should take their issues seriously.

The protesters said that police were fully capable of eliminating militancy and bringing lasting peace, so there was no need for stationing security forces in the region.

They demanded immediate withdrawal of the army from the district and empowerment of the police to launch actions against armed groups.

Authorities have reportedly sought help from the elders of Marwat Qaumi Jirga to convince protesters to disperse peacefully.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024